Get your stimulus tax rebate faster: The IRS tells how

Want to get your tax rebate faster? File your taxes early and electronically, and arrange for direct deposit.

The IRS drove home that message today when it announced its schedule for delivering economic stimulus rebates. Folks whose federal tax forms are processed by the IRS by the April 15 deadline and who arrange for direct deposit can expect their rebates to be sent to their bank accounts no later than May 16. You're more likely to have your taxes processed by April 15 if you file electronically.

The IRS will deliver stimulus payments based on the last two digits of filers' Social-Security numbers; the lower those digits, the earlier the payment. If a couple is filing jointly, the first Social Security number on the tax return is the one that counts in determining the payment schedule.

For folks whose returns are processed by April 15 and arrange for direct deposit:
Those whose last two Social-Security number digits are between 00 and 20 are expected to get the first payments, by May 2.
Those with last digits between 21 and 75 should get their payments by May 9.
Those with last digits between 76 and 99 should get theirs by May 16.

In contrast, the IRS says it will begin to send out paper checks on May 16, even for early filers. The agency says it expects to send out the last checks to on-time filers by July 11. You may have to wait a few days extra for the checks to reach your mailbox.

If there's a problem with processing your return, your payment--whether by direct deposit or paper check--could be delayed beyond those target dates. And anyone filing for an extension will have to wait for their rebate for at least two weeks after they get their refund.

IRS spokesman Eric Smith notes that by filing electronically, you can expect your rebate from two weeks to two months sooner than if you filed by mail. Even if you owe the government, you can file now and arrange for payment on April 15; that way, even with no refund, you'll get your rebate faster.

"If you've never tried electronic filing, this is the year to do it," Smith told us. "If you're getting a refund, you'll get it sooner. If you're getting a rebate, you'll really get it sooner."

While you're waiting for the rebate, try the IRS's new economic stimulus payment calculator to determine how large a rebate you'll get. To do a proper estimate, you'll need to have filled out your 2007 Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ.

Comments

[dawn]

We filed online through H&R Block in the beginning of February and had them delivered direct deposit. We had our fees taken out at that time from our return, so does this mean we will get a paper check? RULES say if you had your fees taken out by your preparer you will get a paper check.

[Gayle]

I entered my info on the "Where's My Stimulus Payment" site and it says my rebate was direct deposited on May 9. I called the bank today to check on it, because that account had been closed. They had no record of an attempt to deposit anything nor any record of a rejection notice. I called the IRS and they reluctantly told me that it wasn't going in until the 19th instead of the 9th, so that site they have set up is not very reliable. They told me it takes 2-10 days to receive a rejection notice from the bank and then they convert it to a paper check. So, at least it goes in the mail shortly after the bank rejects it and I don't have to wait until my social security # comes up in the paper check mailing schedule.

[jennifer]

my last 2 digits of my ss#is 42 i filed on eztax and had my fees deducted from my refund , can anyone tell me if checks have been mailed out yet, do you get it earlier if you filed online and did it with direct deposit

[jennifer]

can anyone tell me if you filed online with eztax and had your fee deducted from your refund and direct deposit will i receive my stimulus check sooner

[Chawnika]

I just verified... if you had your refund directed deposited, but had the fees taken out of your refund, you will not receive payment in the first string. Sucks :(

[sheila christian]

If I Filed A return from Jackson Hewitt AND recieved the I power cash card so I could have the direct deposit and my last two digits are 54 when will I receive my stimulus payment?

[melissa barrett]

hello there i have a question im just wounderin what will happen with our stimulus check we have moved after we did our taxes this year i guess about two months ago i put in a change of address will the check still come to our new address or will it be mailed to the old one cause we should have got ours today, or tommarrow it hasent came today & they mailed it out by fri.

thanks,
melissa

[wanda barron]

if you owe back taxes your stimulus check will get applied to you balance even if you are on a installment or payment plan

[Joshua Kemp]

When i filed i did the RAL loan with H&R Block and received it on my emerald card. My question is for the first time my federal taxes were taken and the bank that approved the RAL loan did not receive thier money will the IRS use my stimulus rebate check to pay what i owe the bank for the RAL loan amount? If u can help answer this ? much thanks.

[Stepahnie Kemp]

I filed my taxes with H&R Block and received the RAL loan on my emerald card. My question is because for the first time my federal taxes were taken and the bank that approved the RAL loan did not receive thier money so will the IRS use my rebate check to pay the bank the money i owe from getting the ral loan. Any info you can find out in regards to my question would be great thanks bunches.

[michelle]

I moved about 1 month ago, will the check come to the old address or since I did send in the form for new address will it come to my new address?

[Glenn]

I used TurboTax for my taxes and it imported last years information, which had me claimed as an exemption on my parent's return. I filed my taxes and received my refund into my bank account. I then noticed the error and filed a 1040x (amended return) amending the exemption. I received a paper check for the additional refund. I should have received my rebate last week into my checking account but when I go to the IRS "Where's My Stimulus Payment" website, it tells me I do not qualify because I can be claimed on someone else's return, which is what my 1040 showed. How do I get my $600?

[kis]

ssn ends with 02 still no stimulus check in the mail and today is 5/21 this suks!!

[Josephine Cocita]

im a senior citizen on ssn. i paid a very small amount of taxes in 2007. will i still receive a rebate check?

[Susan W.]

My exhusband is behind with child support. The divorce agreement states he claims our daughter even years and I claim her odd years unless he falls behind with support, then I can claim her until he is caught up. He is self-employed and usually owes taxes. We did our own divorce and he does not pay through the court, he just pays me directly (I keep up with it in a ledger). Am I entitled to his economic stimulus rebate?

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

Susan W:

Whoever claimed your daughter for tax-year 2007 will get the rebate. If that's your husband, he will get it. (Normally, the IRS would garnish the rebate for folks who owe child support, but as long as no one in the government is involved in the child-support issue, the fact that he is in arrears should not affect the amount of his rebate.)

Even if your husband does get the rebate this year, there is a glitch in the law that may allow you to get the rebate next tax season. I've spoken with some professionals who say that divorced folks who claim their children in alternate years may each be able to get the child rebate. That's because the IRS says that folks who don't get the entire rebate to which they are entitled this year will have a chance to re-apply for the remainder in tax-season 2009 (for tax-year 2008). It may be as simple as filing your regular tax form, or it may require an additional form. Stay tuned to this blog early next year, or check the IRS Web site, www.irs.gov.

[Mary R.]

My boyfriend owes back child support to me. His federal refund has been offset, and I have received it. He has not received any informational letter regarding the economic stimulus. When he filed his taxes, it was originally to be direct deposit, but was offset by child support, and sent to me. Will he receive an economic stimulus? Will it be direct deposit or mailed? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.

[Victor Mendez]

I have not filed my 2007 return yet. Is there a deadline to file in order to deceive the stimulus check?

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

Victor:

You must file your tax return by October 15, 2008 in order to receive this year's stimulus payment That deadline is the same as the tax-return extension deadline.

[Misty Patterson]

My husband deployed in October 2007, and he is still gone. We filed our taxes in late January, and have 2 kids. We thought that married filing joint would receive $1200 then $300 for each child, however the IRS says we are only getting $1200. Allowing $600 for us as a married couple and $600 for our 2 children. He had a little over $7000 in combat pay. Is this the reason we're not getting the full $1800?

[Tobie Stanger (Consumer Reports)]

Misty:

That's entirely possible. The $1,200 per couple represents a maximum, based on income. In general, you will not get back more as a stimulus payment than you and you husband paid in 2007 income taxes.

[daveb]

The IRS web site notes that checks for my SS number (18) would be mailed by May 23 but now on June 6 I have received nothing. The IRS site's basic trace says they have no information regarding my payment. Should I sit tight or begin more in-depth follow up

[alex austria]

I HAVE H&R BLOCK DID MY TAXES AND I HAVE THEM PUT MY REFUND
IN A EMERALD MASTER CARD ,WILL MY REBATE CHECK GOES TO MY EMERALD MASTER CARD TOO.CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME HOW OR WHEN WILL I GET MY TAX REBATE CHECK, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

[CAL]

I received the Stimulus Payment letter on June 11th, the letter stated I would receive $1658.00. My husband and I filling married, jointly and 3 children. I received our check on the 16th, of June but it was only for the amout of $829.00 , I dont understand where the rest of the money is at? Or why I didnt receive what my Economic Stimulus Payment letter stated what I would receive. Does anyone know about a situation like mine? Thanks
CAL

[AMBER]

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY PAYMENT BEING THAT SOMEONE I KNOW ALREADY RECEIVED THEIRS BY MAIL AND THEIR SOCIAL ENDS WITH 72 MINE IS 96